Impact detecting and tracking systems and methods for vehicle crash attenuator systems

ABSTRACT

An impact tracking system includes a sensor module that mounts to a fixed crash attenuator, sign, guardrail, or other roadway devices installed along a roadway. When the crash attenuator or other asset is impacted by an errant vehicle, the impact tracker, comprising a sensor system, senses and captures the impact data and sends an alert message to a remote receiver. The receiver may comprise known data receiving means, such as computers or phone systems, which may receive emails, text messages, photos, and the like in real or near real time. Received data may be analyzed, stored, and/or re-transmitted to additional receivers, which may include road authorities, such as transportation departments responsible for inspecting and repairing the impact attenuators.

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the filingdate of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/947,451, entitledImpact Detecting and Tracking Systems and Methods for Vehicle CrashAttenuator Systems, filed on Dec. 12, 2019, and of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 63/115,993, entitled Impact Detecting and TrackingSystems and Methods for Vehicle Crash Attenuator Systems, filed on Nov.19, 2020. Each of the foregoing applications are commonly assigned withthe present application, and are each expressly incorporated herein byreference, in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle crash attenuators and barricades, of both the stationary andvehicle-mounted types, are well known in the art. One such stationaryvehicle crash attenuation system is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S.Pat. Nos. 8,430,596 and 9,822,503 as well as in U.S. Pat. No. 7,819,604,all three patents of which are herein expressly incorporated byreference, in their entirety.

A problem for highway agencies and contractors, related to vehicle crashattenuators and barricades, as well as roadside signs, guardrails, andthe like, is that they become damaged from time to time, usually as aresult of vehicular impacts which are unreported because they are of aminor nature or the driver of the impacting vehicle is negligent orimpaired. Consequently, some of these roadside devices can becomehazardous, because they are damaged to the extent that they can nolonger perform their protective duties, especially in the case of crashattenuators, which may no longer effectively attenuate the forces of avehicular crash, putting occupants of the impacting vehicle at risk ofsevere injury or death. Even if safety is not a pressing concern, suchdamage may result in a mis-located or unsightly roadside device.

Another issue that plagues such agencies and contractors is that theymay have many roadside devices of the type noted above in placethroughout their system of roadways and highways, and/or along thevarious construction sites for which they are responsible. Unless acareful inventory is maintained, there may not be reliable records as towhere various ones of these assets are installed, what type of asset itis, and whether the installed assets are in operable condition.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have an asset tracking andmanagement system, which is automated and which is capable of monitoringthe status of each logged asset on a real-time basis, to improvecost-effective management of expensive traffic safety assets, and toensure that installed assets are ready to perform the safety tasks forwhich they are intended.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive system and methods meet the need for an effective,automated, and efficient traffic safety asset and management system. Thesystem comprises an impact tracker device that mounts to a fixed crashattenuator, sign, guardrail, or other roadway devices installed along aroadway. The impact tracker device may also be utilized withvehicle-mounted crash attenuators, such as the SCORPION® truck andtrailer mounted attenuators available from the applicant for the presentapplication, TrafFix Devices, Inc. When the crash attenuator or otherasset is impacted by an errant vehicle, the impact tracker, comprising asensor system, senses and captures the impact data and sends an alertmessage to a remote receiver. The receiver may comprise known datareceiving means, such as computers or phone systems, which may receiveemails, text messages, photos, and the like in real or near real time.

Received data may be analyzed, stored, and/or re-transmitted toadditional receivers, which may include road authorities, such astransportation departments responsible for inspecting and repairing theimpact attenuators. Safety engineers use the impact data to understandquantity, location, and other information about accidents. Road designengineers can use the data to understand where road design flaws may becontributing to accidents, and to design safer roads. Attenuatormanufacturers may use the data to validate or improve the performance ofthe attenuator. Asset managers may use the data to record the location,identity, and condition of crash attenuators in their districts ofresponsibility.

The impact detecting and tracking systems of the invention, in additionto motion and impact sensors, may employ camera systems for recordingthe actual impact, as well as, potentially, near misses to theattenuator. Speed of the impacting vehicle may be sensed, stored, andtransmitted. The camera systems may also include license platerecognition and recording systems for ensuring that errant motorists areheld accountable for damage that they cause.

More particularly, in a particular aspect of the invention there isprovided a tracking and management system for roadway traffic safetyassets, which comprises a sensor module securable to a particular asset.The sensor module comprises a housing, a processor, a communicationstransmitter, a power supply, and an impact detecting sensor. Acommunications receiver remote from the sensor module is adapted toreceive a signal from the communications transmitter and to loginformation related to the signals into a database containingidentifying information concerning the sensor module and the particularasset to which it is secured. The communications receiver is furtheradapted to display identifying information concerning the particularasset and the sensor module secured thereto.

The signal from the communications transmitter comprises an alarmtriggered by an impact above a predetermined level sensed by the impactdetecting sensor. The impact detecting sensor, in a particularembodiment, comprises an accelerometer.

The predetermined impact level triggering the impact detecting sensor isset to detect a likely damaging impact on the particular asset by avehicle. In one particular embodiment, the predetermined impact level is0.5G on an X-Y axis and 1.0G on a Z axis, but these predetermined levelsare dependent upon the nature of the particular asset, its vulnerabilityto damaging impacts, its locations, and other factors.

In a particular illustrated embodiment, the processor comprises a lowpower cellular module. The communications transmitter comprises acellular antenna. In certain embodiments, the sensor module furthercomprises a GPS locator, and the power supply comprises a battery,though other power sources, such as a solar panel, could potentially beused.

A scannable identifier may be disposed on the sensor module housing forproviding a user with immediate information concerning the sensor moduleand its associated asset. In the illustrated embodiment, the scannableidentifier comprises a QR code.

The communications receiver comprises a host server, the host serverhaving a database for storing information regarding each asset and itsassociated sensor module, and further being adapted to display adashboard presenting impact and management information regarding eachasset and associated sensor module logged into the system, the dashboardbeing displayable on a screen directly connected to the host server, oron other devices logged into the host server and having suitableapplication software installed thereon.

In another aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a method oftracking and managing roadway traffic safety assets using sensor modulessecured to or otherwise associated with each asset to be tracked andmanaged. The method comprises receiving an activation signal from asensor module secured to a particular asset, logging the sensor moduleand the particular asset into a database, including informationconcerning the particular asset, its location, and a customer owning theparticular asset, and receiving an alarm signal from the sensor module,indicating that an impact over a threshold value has been detected onthe particular asset. A further step may comprise forwarding the alarmsignal to a customer's mobile or computer device. An accelerometer maybe utilized to detect the impact over a threshold value. The methodprovides for a further step of displaying a status for each of aplurality of assets upon receipt of an inquiry from a logged-in user.

The invention, together with additional features and advantages thereof,may best be understood by reference to the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying illustrative drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary component of a vehicle crashattenuator device on which a sensor module constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention has been secured;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the exemplary vehicle crash attenuator deviceshown in FIG. 1 disposed in a typical array of such devices on aroadway, for the protection of a fixed structure, such as a bridgeabutment or the like;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the sensor moduleshown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the sensor module of FIG. 3 wherein the cover ofthe module has been removed to reveal a processor board which isprogrammed to perform desired functions of the sensor module;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the processor board of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of an exemplary operating method for thesystem of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an exemplary form of a user interfacedashboard for the system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2,there is shown a barrier module 10 which is positioned with the confinesof a frame structure 12, as illustrated. FIG. 2 shows the barrier module10 and frame structure 12 joined to additional barrier modules 14 toform a crash attenuator array 16 that may be placed in front of andsecured to a fixed structure, such as a concrete abutment or the like(not shown). The barrier modules 10, 12 are formed of hollow plastic andmay be filled with a dispersible ballasting material, such as water orsand, though the barrier module 10, disposed within the confines of theframe structure 12, is typically kept empty in arrays 16 of the typeshown. The crash attenuator array 16 is commercially available from theapplicant for the present invention, TrafFix Devices, Inc., of SanClemente, Calif., and is sold under the trademark SLED®.

An impact tracking or sensor module 18 may be mounted on a desiredlocation on the crash attenuator array, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,wherein the sensor module 18 is mounted on a vertical frame member 20 ofthe frame structure 12. The mounting location is not critical, and isselected based on desired factors, such as visibility, cellular networksignal strength, protection from direct impacts during a crash, and thelike. For example, the sensor module 18 could be mounted on other framelocations on the frame structure 12, or on any desired location on thebarrier modules 10, 12.

It should also be noted that the crash attenuator array 16 is merelyrepresentative of a host of crash attenuators, both stationary andvehicle-mounted, and other roadside safety devices, including, but notlimited to, barricades, channelizers, signs and sign stands, and thelike, on which the sensor module 18 may be deployed. For the remainingportions of this application, for ease of reference, the term “asset”shall be used to refer to any and all of these traffic safety devices.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the sensor module 18,which may be formed of a plastic housing 22 having mounting flanges 24with fastener or mounting holes 26 for securing the housing 22 to adesired location on the asset 16. A scannable identifier 28, such as theillustrated QR code, or other suitable identifying means, is disposed onan outside surface of the housing 22 for easy access. Scanning theidentifier 28 using the camera function on a mobile device, for example,takes the user directly to the portal/dashboard 60 in the softwaresystem for the purpose of managing the device. While it may bepreferable, as noted above, to position the housing 22 to minimize itsexposure to likely vehicular impacts, the housing 22 is engineered tosurvive direct vehicular impacts and to maintain operation.

FIG. 4 shows the sensor module housing 22, wherein a top portion 29 ofthe housing has been removed by removing the fasteners 30 from withinfastener receptacles 32. With the top housing portion 29 removed, aprocessor board 34 is visible within the housing 22, mounted thereto byfasteners 36, through holes 38 (FIG. 5). FIG. 5 illustrates the reverseside of the processor board 34, removed entirely from the housing 22 forclarity.

The sensor module 18 includes, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment,a low power cellular module or communications module 40 designed forengagement with the Internet of Things (IoT). The communications module40 is adapted to be programmed as the processor for storing software andthe operating system for the module. Communication from the sensormodule 18 to receiving devices is important for providing real-time dataof impacts, battery life, and malfunctions, though, of course, any meansof providing such communication, whether using existing or futurecellular networks, WiFi where available, or communications networks yetunknown which may become known and used in the future, may be usedwithin the metes and bounds of the invention. Again, in the illustratedexemplary embodiment, a SIM card holder 42, connectable to up to threedifferent networks, a cellular antenna 44, and an accelerometer 46 areprovided, which together program the sensor module 18, store memory ofimpacts, events, and alarms, sense and measure strength of impacts tothe sensor module 18 and the asset to which it is attached. On the backof the board 34, contact holes 48 for a battery connector and a GPSantenna 50 are visible. A lithium battery (not shown) can power themodule 18 for up to five years, and is easily replaceable. The result isa self-contained compact device that is weatherproof and durable,monitors the asset to which it is attached 24/7, is easily attached tomost assets, and is powered by a 5-year lifespan battery.

There is a manual on/off switch on the module 18, which may be insidethe housing for security purposes, for powering the device on and offdirectly. Powering the device on outdoors will activate the GPS locatorin the device to obtain a GPS location. A recalibrate control icon isavailable on the software dashboard for calibrating GPS informationwhich may have been lost on a particular managed device.

FIG. 6 is a simple schematic diagram of the operation of an exemplaryembodiment of the inventive asset monitoring system 52. The system 52comprises the above-described sensor module 18, including thecommunications processor 40 which accesses a suitable communicationsnetwork 54, such as a cellular network, for both outgoing and incomingcommunications. Signals from the sensor module 18, passing through thenetwork 54, may be delivered to a host server 56, and/or to a user'scommunications device 58, such as a cell phone or computer, eitherdirectly or via the host server 56. The alarm signal may be sentsimultaneously to multiple mobile and desktop devices, with the exactlocation of the impacted asset(s).

FIG. 7 is a simple schematic diagram showing an exemplary representationof a dashboard 60 for viewing assets managed by the system 52. Thedashboard 60 may have a display screen portion 62 including, forexample, a map showing active and/or inactive asset locations, andinformation about selected assets and sensor devices or modules 18,alarms, and customer information.

In operation, in an exemplary mode, the impact tracker system of theinvention is programmed and designed to provide immediate notificationto parties responsible for a particular roadside asset, such as crashcushions, signs, guardrails, and other roadside devices, of a vehicularimpact or other important event. For example, upon impact by a vehicleto the asset on which an activated sensor module 18 is mounted, theaccelerometer or other applicable sensor determines whether the impactexceeds predetermined threshold values likely to trigger significantdamage to the asset. In one particular embodiment, those predeterminedthreshold values are 0.5G on the X-Y axis and 1.0G on the Z axis, but ofcourse those predetermined threshold values may be adjusted dependingupon the nature of the asset and its vulnerability to damaging impacts.

When such a threshold impact has been detected, the communicationssystem of the sensor module 18 is activated and an alert is sent throughthe communications system 54 to the host server 56, where it is logged,and forwarded to designated users 58. In some embodiments, the alert mayalso be sent directly to the designated users 58, as shown in FIG. 6.The alert may be in the form of an email or text message, or otherappropriate means. The dashboard 60, desired forms of which may appearon displays connected to the host server 56, and on user interfaces 58,will display the alert, the nature and magnitude of the sensed impact,and the location of the asset involved, on a map, by address, or in someother suitable format. At some point after the logged impact, the assetcan be inspected, physically, or via photographs of the device uploadedto the software database and then viewed by a software user, todetermine whether it is still effectively functional or needsreplacement or repair. If repair or replacement is required, the statusof the asset can be updated in the software database, for example, to ared color. Once the repair or replacement has occurred, the status canbe updated again to green.

When a sensor module 18 is installed on a particular asset, and theasset is placed in service, an initialization routine may be institutedby activating the sensor module 18, during which the module 18 connectsto a locally available communications network, seeks a GPS signal todocument its location, and sends an initialization message to thedashboard 60 on the host server 56. At this point, the asset managementsystem on the host server 56 logs the asset and the sensor module 18 asactive in the system. The sensor module 18 then goes into sleep modeuntil a triggering impact is sensed. Other functions programmed into thesensor module 18 may include transmitting periodic signals to the hostserver indicating that it is still online and its battery strength, andresponding to inquiries, of a periodic, automated nature, or thosemanually initiated, received from the server as to its status. When themodule 18 is installed, with its associated asset, the installer mayupload a photograph which will also be stored in the database on thehost server. In some embodiments, the uploading of the photograph mayserve to activate the asset in the system, and the photograph will laterbe available to identify visually the nature of the asset should analarm be activated.

Occasionally, a false impact will be detected by the system. Such afalse impact might be caused by road vibrations, earthquakes, weatherconditions, or improper mounting of the sensor module 18. Visualinspection will identify an improper or loose mounting, which can beaddressed by re-mounting the sensor module 18 securely. However, if theasset is placed in a construction work zone, or in an area routinelyprone to heavy vibration, a slider on the asset page of the softwareuser interface may be utilized to tune the sensitivity of theaccelerometer appropriately, in this case by lowering its sensitivity.In other instances, it may be desirable to increase the asset'ssensitivity remotely to best fit a specific application. The slider canbe set between Low (least sensitive) and High (most sensitive), withMedium being the recommended setting for most applications.

The inventive system permits re-assignment of sensor modules 18 from oneasset to a different asset. In some instances, the old asset will beremoved from the system because it is no longer operational, and themodule re-initiated after mounting on the new asset, while in othercases the asset may be archived to retain asset history, photos, notes,and the like in the database.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the hardware, comprising thesensor module 18 and associated components, may be sold to the customer,while the asset management system is made available asSoftware-As-A-Service (SAAS), for a periodic subscription fee, thesoftware being hosted and maintained on the host server and accessed bythe customer through an established account with log-in credentials. Ofcourse, other approaches, such as downloadable licensed asset managementsoftware, could be made available if desired. As noted above, softwareapplications may be downloaded onto users' mobile phones or computersfor real-time access to alarms and other asset management information.Functionality may be included with these software applications to enablethe customer to toggle particular assets between an active anddeactivated status.

The inventive asset management system is capable of doing much more thanimpact tracking. It is useful even simply as an asset management tool,logging and maintaining a database of active and inactive assets,deployed and in storage yards, including types of assets, their status,and their condition. Financial accounting modules may be incorporatedinto the asset management software to utilize in billing the customer ona per unit basis for pricing subscriptions, if desired, or for use bythe customer in billing its own customers for deployed assets. Thesystem may also be programmed to conduct a health check of each assetand associate module periodically, such as once per day, either bypinging the module for a response, or by programming the module toautomatically “check-in” by sending a signal, via text or email, forexample, to designated receivers on a desired schedule. If no healthcheck signal is received on the pre-arranged schedule, the status of theasset can be evaluated to see if communication has been lost, a batteryis low, or if there is some other reason, such as an undetected impactand associated damage, for the module's failure to check in.

The inventive asset tracking and management system is capable oftracking and recording any asset's installation date, manufacturer'smake and model, site location, installer's information and notes, andimpact and inspection history, all from the user's computer or mobiledevice.

While the illustrated embodiment does not incorporate a camera, it iswithin the scope of the invention to include one or more cameras on orassociated with the module 18, which can be operated and programmed tovisually monitor the installation on command or in response to athreshold impact signal sensed by the module 18. In this case, it maysometimes not be necessary to send a worker to the site to perform theinspection of the asset after such an alarm, but rather, the damage maybe assessed by inspecting photographs automatically uploaded by themodule 18, or generated by commands sent to the module subsequent to theimpact.

The software/database end of the inventive system is designed, incertain applications, to be a multi-tenant system, wherein the tenantmaintains the software and database on the host server and subscribersor software licensees are sub-tenants. The sub-tenants are responsiblefor monitoring alarms, and for managing and responding to alerts fromtheir assets.

Accordingly, although exemplary embodiments and features of theinvention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that allthe terms used herein are descriptive rather than limiting, and thatmany changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one havingordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tracking and management system for roadwaytraffic safety assets, comprising: a sensor module securable to aparticular asset, at a particular fixed location on a roadside, thesensor module comprising a housing enclosing a processor, acommunications transmitter, a power supply, and an impact detectingsensor; and a communications receiver remote from the sensor module, thecommunications receiver being adapted to receive a signal from thecommunications transmitter and to log information related to the signalsinto a database containing identifying information concerning the sensormodule and the particular asset to which the sensor module is secured,the communications receiver further being adapted to display identifyinginformation concerning the particular asset and the sensor modulesecured thereto, the signal from the communications transmittercomprising an alarm triggered by an impact above a predetermined levelsensed by the impact detecting sensor, the predetermined level sensed bythe impact detecting sensor being adjustable by a user, wherein thecommunications receiver comprises a host server, the host server havinga database for storing information regarding each asset and the sensormodule secured to each asset, and further being adapted to display adashboard presenting impact and management information regarding eachasset and associated sensor module logged into the system, the dashboardbeing displayable on a screen directly connected to the host server, orbeing displayable on screens of other devices logged into the hostserver and having suitable application software installed thereon;wherein the particular asset remains at the same particular fixedlocation both before and after the sensed impact.
 2. The tracking andmanagement system as recited in claim 1, wherein the impact detectingsensor comprises an accelerometer.
 3. The tracking and management systemas recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined impact level triggeringthe impact detecting sensor is set to detect a likely damaging impact onthe particular asset by a vehicle.
 4. The tracking and management systemas recited in claim 3, wherein the predetermined impact level is 0.5G onan X-Y axis and 1.0G on a Z axis.
 5. The tracking and management systemas recited in claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a low powercellular module.
 6. The tracking and management system as recited inclaim 5, wherein the communications transmitter comprises a cellularantenna.
 7. The tracking and management system as recited in claim 1,wherein the sensor module further comprises a GPS locator.
 8. Thetracking and management system as recited in claim 7, and furthercomprising a scannable identifier on the sensor module housing forproviding a user with immediate information concerning the sensor moduleand the sensor module's associated asset.
 9. The tracking and managementsystem as recited in claim 8, wherein the scannable identifier comprisesa QR code.
 10. The tracking and management system as recited in claim 8,wherein the scannable identifier is adapted to direct a device scanningthe scannable identifier to the dashboard.
 11. The tracking andmanagement system as recited in claim 1, wherein the power supplycomprises a battery.
 12. The tracking and management system as recitedin claim 1, wherein the dashboard is adapted to display a slider fortuning the impact detecting sensor to adjust the predetermined levelsensed by the impact detecting sensor.
 13. The tracking and managementsystem as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a manual powerswitch enclosed within the housing of the sensor module.
 14. A method oftracking and managing roadway traffic safety assets using sensor modulessecured to or otherwise associated with each asset to be tracked andmanaged, comprising: receiving an activation signal from a sensor modulesecured to a particular roadway traffic safety asset; logging the sensormodule and the particular asset into a database, including informationidentifying the particular asset, a current location of the particularasset, and a customer responsible for the particular asset; receivingand logging an alarm signal from the sensor module, indicating that animpact above a threshold value has been detected on the particularasset, wherein the particular asset remains in the same particular fixedlocation after the detected impact; forwarding information concerningthe alarm signal to the customer responsible for the particular asset;and displaying information concerning the particular asset to alogged-in user when the logged-in user scans an identifier disposed onthe sensor module, the displayed information including control functionswhich permit the logged-in user to manage the particular asset.
 15. Themethod as recited in claim 14, and further utilizing an accelerometer todetect the impact above a threshold value.
 16. The method as recited inclaim 14, and further displaying a status for each of a plurality ofassets upon receipt of an inquiry from a logged-in user.
 17. The methodas recited in claim 14, and further comprising a step of receiving andlogging photographs of the particular asset into the database.
 18. Themethod as recited in claim 17, wherein the step of receiving and loggingphotographs of the particular asset into the database occurs afterreceipt of an alarm signal concerning the particular asset, the methodfurther comprising reviewing the logged photographs to ascertain anydamage to the particular asset requiring repair or replacement.
 19. Themethod as recited in claim 18, and further comprising a step of addingan indicator in the database that a particular asset is damaged, theindicator being displayed to a logged-in user viewing information fromthe database to advise the logged-in user of a need to repair or replacethe particular asset.
 20. The method as recited in claim 14, and furthercomprising tuning a sensitivity level of the accelerometer between a lowlevel and a high level responsive to ambient vibration levels and otherconditions at the current location of the particular asset.
 21. Themethod as recited in claim 14, and comprising a further step ofdeactivating a sensor module in the database when it is removed from aparticular asset, and re-activating the sensor module in the databasewhen it is installed on a different particular asset.